Several weeks ago, the Virginia General Assembly completed a whirlwind 45-day legislative session for 2025 that included vetting and considering 2,360 pieces of legislation, along with a bruising budget process for the coming year.
NVCT works alongside its partners within Virginia’s United Land Trusts (VaULT) and Virginia Conservation Network to advocate for strong levels of land conservation funding and policies that support our environment. We also oppose or work to improve legislation that would harm our parks and natural areas.
In addition to being an active member of VaULT, NVCT is also a proud member of VIRGINIAforever and Our Virginia Outdoors, two diverse coalitions working in bipartisan, collaborative ways to expand the Commonwealth’s critical investments in land and water protection.
Over the month and a half long session, NVCT staff were in Richmond on several occasions for meetings with key legislators and testifying at committee hearings when important legislation was being heard.
NVCT’s advocacy priorities during this past legislative session included:
Championing Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act
Supporting several budget amendments that would increase critical programs like the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) Conserving Virginia’s Diverse Landscapes for 25 Years
Advocating for the creation of Oak Hill State Park in Loudoun County, an incredible 1,200 acre site that was the former home of President James Monroe The Conservation Fund Poised To Preserve U.S. President Monroe’s Oak Hill Home - The Conservation Fund
The results from this year’s legislation session were decidedly mixed when it came to land conservation, but important steps were taken to build momentum for critical programs and strengthen bipartisan support for our great outdoors. Highlights from the legislative session included:
Building new bipartisan support for Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act and moving the bill further along in the House legislative process than ever before. Our work culminated on January 22nd with an incredibly diverse group of supporters testifying in support of the legislation before the House Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee. Huge thank you to Delegate Paul Krizek for championing the legislation and Delegate David Bulova for hearing it and pushing forward in the committee he chairs. Virginia
Advocating for and holding VLCF funding at a strong level of $16m annually, supporting the inclusion of $20 million additional dollars in the budget for state park maintenance, and increasing funds for the state’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Historic Preservation Fund
As is often the case during legislative debates and discussions, you don’t get everything you want, and difficult budgetary decisions must be made. A number of priorities that NVCT strongly supported were not adopted or invested in, most notably, funding for and approval of Oak Hill State Park. Va. lawmakers reject gift of last presidential Founding Father home in private hands - The Washington Post
There is still a chance that the Governor will reinsert funding for Oak Hill State Park in the annual budget when the legislative session reconvenes in April to complete its work. NVCT will continue to support Oak Hill's inclusion as the newest addition to our state park system, offering a unique opportunity to protect such a large and significant site in the DC metro area.
Other land conservation priorities will be back for consideration in next year's general assembly, and NVCT will be working with partner organizations across the Commonwealth to meet with legislators and build more champions for investing in our natural legacy.
After the legislative session, NVCT hosted a virtual political roundtable with many of the important state elected officials in our region to assess the session we just had and what’s ahead for land conservation in the future. We appreciate these extraordinary public servants who do so much for our communities, and you can hear from them and learn about their priorities here. Nearby Nature Network | NVCT
Legislative advocacy takes time, persistence, and good fortune to achieve a successful outcome, and it is often the case that incremental steps towards a broader goal are necessary and represent success. As a champion for the lands and waters we have already protected and to ensure that we have new tools and dollars to safeguard even more special places, this is critical work we are proud to do alongside our partners each year.
Comments